Machine for pressing seamed material



DCC. 24, 1940. s, CH|NN|C| MACHINE FOR PREssING SEAMED MATERIAL 13 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1937 F I I I I Il WMH 11111 |||MH Dec. 24, 1940. s, CHlNNlCl 2,226,197

MACHINE FOR PRESSING SEAMED MATERIAL Filed March 6, '1937 15 sheets-sheet 2 I 124 I 1 I M'.

31a/UWM SalI/2% Ziulzioi Dec. 24, 1940.

S. CHlNNlCl MACHINE FOR PRESSING SEAMED MATERIAL Filed March 6, 1937 15 Sheets'-Sheet 5 mim/wu,

MACHINE FOR PRESSING SEAMED MATERIAL Filed March e, 1957 13 sheets-sheet 4 wucntofr,

'TIM ,www fuma Summa/IJ Dee. 24, 1940. s. cHlNNlcl Y 2,225,197 v MACHINE FOR PRESSING SEAMED MATERIAL lFiled March e, 19:57 13 sheets-sheet sl W I ,n l 13. glu/vendo@ Dec. 24, 1940. s, cHlNNlcl MACHINE FOR PRESSING SEAMED MATERIAL 13' Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March e, i937 Dec.24, 1940. s. H|NN|| 2,226,197

MACHINE FOR PRESSING SEAMED MATERIAL Filed March 6, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 5g i. Samia@ 61mm Dec.- 24, s. cHlNNlcl 2,226,197,

MACHINE OR PRESSING SEAMED MATERIAL Filed March 6, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 @Wim @ma Dec. 24, 1940. s. cHlNNlcl MACHINE FOR PRESSING SEAMED MATERIAL 13 sheets-sheet 9 Filed March e, 1937 l 'l Shiv/ zwv s. cHlNNlci Filed March 6, 1957 k- 13 -Sheets-Shee'rI lO Dec. 24, 1940.

MACHINE FOR PRESSINIG SEAMED MATERIAL Filed March e, 19s? 13 sheets-sheet 11 A FORWARD gulmlll s. cHlNNlcl 2,226,197

Dec. 24, 1940. s. cHlNNlcl MACHINE FOR PRESSING SEAMED MATERIAL Filed March 6, 1937 l5 Sheets-Sheet 12 Dec. 24, 1940. s. cH'lNNlcl 2,226,197

MACHINE FOR IhRESSING SEAMED MATERIAL Filed March 6, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 @M/@JM Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR PRESSING SEAMED MATERIAL Salvatore Chinnici, Vineland, N. J. Application March s, 1937, serial No. 129,494

14 Claims.

waistband and other seams of trousers, sleeve,

seams of coats and other garments, longitudinal seams in coats and skirts and the like, and in fact in opening and pressing any substantially long and more or less straight seam in any garment or in any other piece of fabric orvstitched or seamed material. l

My present invention relates in par-t to a machine for and method of pressing seamed material, of the type set forth in my co-pending application serial No. 73,179, led April 7, 1936, over which this appli-cation discloses improvements and extensions of the invention, in that provision is made for lateral removal of the pressing iron following thevpressing operation. I

A n object of my present invention is to provide a pressing machine of this character which can be readily and eiiiciently operated and used by a single person, requiring only pedal manipulation for starting and stopping and for initiating removal and return movement of the pressing iron as the operation of the parts is substantially automatic; it being a purpose to incorporate foot actuated pedal control means so that the operator of the machine need not use either hand for machine control, but does have both hands free with which to manipula-te and adjust the cloth vor garment or fabric or material being Worked upon over the work support or pressing buck, lthereby reserving hand operations for placement and removal of the material or article, for smoothing of pockets and other portions of the garment or material, for straightening out transverse seams or belt loops or other parts incorporated in the seam or closely adjacent thereto, to thus save energy for the operator and greatly increase the production and eiiiciency of the machine, thereby saving time and energy and cost in the pressing operation.

Another object is to provide a machine and method lof this character particularly useful and adaptable in finishing and pressing seams of newly made garments, and the like, where both hands of the operator must advantageously be free for handling and placement and manipulation of the garment or material, where rapid 'and efficient results are desired and required,` and Where the garment or material must be finished and pressed -in new condition and without production or showing of shine or gloss at the pressed seam or upon any adjacent portion of the garment or material.

Yet another lobject is to so construct and associate and assemble .the parts that the iron is moved progressively over the material to open and smooth the seam, the goods at the seam is moistened, and then .the pressing pressure is applied directly and simultaneously throughout the length of the seam as thus opened and moistened,

to thereby insure a smoothly pressed and uni,

formly set result.

Still `another object is to so construct and associate the parts that the movement of the pressing iron to open the seam can be stopped and started as desired, to allow smoothing andadjustment of belt loops, watch pockets, cross seams,

and other parts that might otherwise cause rdisarrangement of the material or unequal results in the nished pressing, and to provide a mechanism in which the iron holds the material in position on the pressing buck and automatically adjusts for any necessary differences in thickness of .the goods or material, as for instance at transverse seams and the like.

A further object is to so construct and associate the parts of the machine, and the control mechanism therefor, that 4a single operator can use both hands in placing and handling land smoothing and manipulating the garment or fabric and the operation of the machine can be entirely and exclusively controlled by the use of the operators foot, foot operation or control ,being also employed for'starting and stopping the iron during the forward movement to open and smooth the seam, and hand operations or manipulations by the operator to control the machine* being entirely obviated.

Still another purpose and object lies v,in the inclusion and the embodiment o-f interconnected y and interfunctioning means and mechanism of such character that when operation is initiated the seam will be progressively opened and spread and smoothed, the material substantially along the line of the seam will be progressively moistened, and the pressing iron willlbe carried to a position extending over and along the length of the seam; and then, direct pressure will be automatically applied lthrough the heated iron to dry and press the smoothed material without moving or sliding thev pressing iron laterally over the material; the construction and arrangement and association of parts being such that the operator can then trip or release the parts for return movement and the iron will be instantaneously lifted from the pressing position and bodily removed from proximity to the material or garentirely clear the buck and a garment or material thereon to thus permit free and ready removal and handling and placement of garments and material to be pressed, without interference from or contact with the pressing iron.

With the above and other objects and purposes in view, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, or which are inherent in the construction and use of the parts and in the carrying out of my invention, this invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, and certain steps and procedures in the carrying out of the method, to be hereinafter more fully set forth in connection with the drawings, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in front elevation showing a machine embodying my apparatus and adapted for use in carrying out my method.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the disclosure in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevational view looking from the right hand end of the showing in Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View showing the pressing iron shift means in operative position and illustrating the released position in dotted lines.

Fig- 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the seam moistening control means. y

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View in perspective to better show the moistening valve control rod.

Fig. 7 is a broken fragmentary view in longitudinal section through the pressing iron and pressing buck illustrating these parts and the seam moistening control means.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View through a portion of the upper part of the frame structure showing the lever arrangement for the steam moistening control mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing one of the wheel mounts for the carriage.

Fig. 10 is a broken fragmentary perspective view illustrating the carriage and the mounting of the iron supporting standard thereon.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of the releasable means by which the iron supporting `standard is locked and Xed upon the carriage.

Fig. l2 is a detail View showing the trip t0 release the iron supporting standard from its locked fixed relation upon the carriage.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the foot actuated control pedal and interconnected parts of the operating and control linkage and leverage,

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view in elevation, and 4partly in section, to show the foot actuated control mechanism and the brake means.

Fig. 15 is a perspective View showing the adjacent ends of the pressing iron and pressing buck Vand illustrating the relation of the parts when the seamed fabric is in place upon the pressing buck and the iron has been moved to initiate opening and smoothing of the seamed parts.

Fig. 1'6 is a fragmentary View in section showing the relative position of the pressing iron when over the pressing buck, and in dotted lines illustrating the position of the iron when bodily removed laterally from proximity to the pressing buck following the pressing operation.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the forward or outer end of the pressing buck.

Fig. 18 is a detail sectional view showing the construction and mounting of one of the carrying wheels of the carriage.

Fig. 19 is a top plan View to better show the iron supporting mounting.

Fig. 20 is a broken fragmentary view partly in section through the iron mounting and supporting parts.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the iron shifting arm means.

Fig- 22 is an enlarged view showing the guide cam to operate the iron shifting means to return the iron to the starting position.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged plan view showing the iron shifting operating means whereby the parts are actuated to bodily move the arm laterally from proximity to the pressing buck.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary view to better show the switch operating mechanism.)

Fig. 25 is a detail perspective view illustrating one of the propelling shaft mountings.

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary detail view showing the propelling shaft mounting.

Fig. 2'7 is a fragmentary perspective view to better show the operating arm by which the switch and the machine parts are set in neutral at the end of the forward movement of the carriage and iron.

Fig. 28 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the shift means by which the switch and machine parts are adjusted to the neutral position upon completion of the return movement of the carriage and iron.

Fig. 29 is a perspective View illustrating an adjustable movable seat to be used with my machine.

Fig. 30 is a view in side elevation of the upper portion of the machine illustrating a modified construction of pressing iron supporting parts.

Fig. 31 is a view in rear elevation of the showing in Fig. 30.

Fig. 32 is a fragmentary detail View illustrating a modified construction of pressure bar for the pressing iron.`

In the presently illustrated embodiment of my invention, the supporting frame structure is of substantially elongated rectangular shape or form when viewed in plan, and this frame and supporting structure can be made up or built of castings, angle iron or other shapes, or in fact can be constructed and erected in manner and form to best suit the particular requirements of use. In the drawings, the frame structure is disclosed as mounted or carried by supporting legs I and including the longitudinally extending bars 2 and transversely disposed connecting bars 3, and such other and necessary longitudinal and transverse and vertical members or frame portions as may be desirable and advantageous. In the present disclosure I have illustrated the frame structure and the several members thereof as being made up of usual forms, bars, angles, channels, and other standard shapes, but it will of course be borne in mind that the leg members can be cast or otherwise formed to be of any desired shape, and that the frame structure can be made up as a plurality of pieces fabricated together, as castings embodying several-portions, or can be constructed and assembled in any desired manner that will serve the purposes of use.

Figure 1 shows in front elevation an embodiment of the complete machine or apparatus constructed in accordance with my present invention and adapted to carry out my improved method.

In thisembodiment, a standard 4 is stationarily and rigidly mounted in upright relation at one end and adjacent to the forward side of the supporting frame structure. and uponY this standard 4 an elongated pressing buck or support 5 is stationarily and rigidly mounted. This pressing buck is preferably made of hollow construction, as perhaps best shown in Figs. 16 and 17, Aand preferably hasthe' tcp thereof flattened in its middle zone and beveled or rounded over at the side edges, as at 6 and?. The nose of this pressing buck or support is preferably beveled or rounded, as illustrated at 8, in Fig. 17.

With this mounting'ofv the pressing buck or support, ther end thereof extends inwardly over the middle portion ofthe supporting frame and the disposition of the supportingvstandard 4 at one end leaves the other or inwardly vextending end entirely free and unobstructed to be fitted through or receive' a seamed garment or other piece of material, such as the leg of a pair of trousers, the sleeve of a coat, or in fact any other seamed garment or material that can be placed or located thereon with the seamed edges presented uppermost or outwardly. While it is intended that this pressing buck or support shall be heated and shall transfer heaty to the material being pressed, to dry the same during the pressing operation or interval, the upper or pressing surface of this pressing buck or support can be fitted with a canvas cover, can be padded, or can be otherwise treated or coveredv to give a suitable and satisfactory pressing surface, without interfering with the transmission of heat. Inlet and outlet pipes 9 and I0 are provided at the end of the pressing buck or support 5 adjacent to the supporting standard 4, so that steam or other suitable heated uid can beintroduced or conducted into the hollow interior rof the pressing buck for heating the same.

With the pressing buck or support constructed and mounted and connected in this manner, the body portion can be heated to any desired temperature, and due to the fact that the side and end edges are rounded, a garment or other seamed material can be placed thereon, substantially as shown in Fig. 15, and the end of the seamed portion can vbeydrawn down over the rounded or reduced or inclined formation at 8 to thus present an open end of the seam, with the main portion of the seam extending substantially longitudinally and centrally upon the flat top of the pressing buck or support, and, with the seamed edges of the material presented upwardly to thus be conveniently and fully4 available for opening and moistening and pressing of these seamed edges while the'garment or material is supported and carried upon the pressing buck 5.

As set out above, the pressing buck 5 isv stationarily mounted adjacent to the forward side and one end of the elongated supporting frame structure, and a pressing iron Il, also of elongated form, is provided to be manipulated and to travel and function relatively with respect to this positioning and mounting of the pressing buck. The pressing iron II must be moved to travel substantially along the length of the seamed portion of material supported on the pressing buck, to thus open and moisten the seam, must be capable of movement toward the pressing buck to accomplish the pressing operation, and is then desirably capable of movement upwardly and bodily laterally to be entirely removed yfrom proximity to the pressing buck yto permit free and ready and unobstructed placement and removal of the seamed material with respect to the pressing buck.

The supporting frame has supporting rods or tracks I2 and I3 'extending longitudinally thereof in spaced relation, and these track members are preferably locatedadjacent to the forward and `rear sides of the machine, and extend in a horizontal plane substantially parallel with the plane of the top of the pressing buck 5. A pressing iron carriage structure I4 has carrying wheels I5 and I6 mounted at opposite ends thereof to travel upon the track members I2 and I3 respectively Fig. 8. These track members I2 and I3 are conveniently made of metal bars of substantially cylindrical shape, and the carrying wheels I5 and I6 are grooved to.trave1 upon and substantially conform to the upper sides of the track members I2 and I3. Side flanges II and I8 can be pro-` vided on the carriage I4 to positively prevent displacement ofthe carriage from the track members I2 and I3, if desired.

A bar I9 is mounted to extend substantially longitudinally upon the carriage structure I4, or

in other words substantially parallel with the line of travel thereof, and this bar I9 is'mounted for limited sliding movement relative to the carriage, guides 2|] on the carriage being'slidably received through slots 2I'of the bar to maintain the bar in predetermined relation and to permit endwise movement only of said bar with respect to the carriage structure. A carriage propelling arm 22 depends from the bar I9, and through the mediumv of this arm 22 and the bar I9, the ironsupporting carriage I4 is moved and is propelled along and over the track or rail members I2 and I 3, for both forward operative movement and return movement of the parts. 4

A pressing iron supporting standard 23 extends' and travels with the carriage I4. The iron-supporting standard 23 has its upper end extended forwardly and this upper end is widened out and is bifurcated to provide a guideway 24 extending substantially horizontally and at right angles to the direction of movement of the carriage I4 Fig. 19. A pressing iron carrying bar 25 is slidably mounted in this guideway 24, rollers being provided at |68 tov lessen frictional contact laterally of said bar and permit more ready endwise sliding movement of said bar 25 in the guideway 24 Fig. 5. A roller 26 carried by swinging arm 21 is yieldingly held against the lower side of the pressing iron carrying bar 25, and the bar 25 is permitted to have swinging movement vertically at its outer end by' reason of thev fact that roller 29 carried by the bar 25A and mounted in slots 30 serves as pivot mountings'for the bar 25. Thebar 25, anddue to the fact that the guideway 24 is slightly wider than the bar 25, and the fact that this bar is mounted for swinging and slightl torsional movement, the iron II can move or swing upwardly and downwardly, can move bodily into a line substantiallyparallel with and lso above the pressing buck`5, `can move to aposition substantially `parallel and above, but bodily .and completely spaced rearwardly from the pressing buck when the bar 25 is slid rearwardly within the guideway 24, and can twist or moveto have one end or the other thereof slightly elevated to clear and accommodate seams or other unevenness or variations in thickness in the material being pressed as the bar V25 is permitted slight torsional movement within the guideway 24.

The hollow pressing iron I I has its lower pressing face shaped to substantially conform with the ,pressing face of the pressing buck 5, as to length Aand width, and thus a sumcient length and width of pressing area is provided relatively between the pressing iron and the pressing buck ,to press upon and cover the entire seamed edges and as much of the material on each side laterally from the seam as may be found desirable. As stated, the pressing iron II is made hollow, and inlet and outlet connections are provided at 33 and 34 to permit introduction of hot steam or of other iluid to attain and maintain a proper degree of heat in the body of the iron II. It is perhaps desirable that ilexible hose or other connections be made at 33 and 34, as these will not interfere with the movement and manipulation of the iron, and thus the iron can be heated to any desired temperature and free movement and manipulation thereof is not in any way hindered or interfered with. Of course, both the pressing buck 5 and the iron II can be heated in any desired or approved manner, as for instance by the use of electricity, a gas flame, or the like.

As stated, the spring 28 serves to resiliently hold the pressing iron carrying bar 25 Vswung upwardly, and in this position the iron II is swung upwardly with its pressing face in a plane above 'the plane of the pressing face of the pressing buck 5, as shown in Fig. 3 and illustrated by `the 'full lines in Fig. 16. The spring 28, through the roller 26, serves to normally hold the pressing i-ron in this raised or elevated position, and as diiTerent conditions of use and operation may require different tension or bearing pressure through this spring 28, I provide an adjusting cap 33' available to the user or operator to vary and adjust the force exerted through or by the spring 28.

The 4pressing iron I-I is employed to open and smooth back the seamed -edges of material placed -or supported -upon the pressing buck 5, to introduce or apply moisture along the line of the seam, and subsequently to exert pressure and to apply heat to press the opened and moistened material along the line of the seam. As Vshown in Fig. '7, the hollow pressing iron has a wet steam or moistening steam passage and chamber 34 near the forward end and adjacent to the lower face, and steam or moisture escape openings or passages 35 are provided through the pressing face of the pressing iron substantially centered and aligned longitudinally with the pressing face vand nose of the iron. As the nose of the iron must enter between and spread out and smooth back the edges of the seamed material, as illustrated in Fig. 15, it is desirable that `this nose be made 'somewhat wedge-shaped or pointed, as shown at 36. Since steam or moisture will be applied only at certain 'times or intervals during the operation of the machine, and as steam is constantly supplied to the chamber within the hollow pressing iron I I, the moisten ing chamber 34 must be separated from the hollow opening in the body of the iro-n, and steam must'be admitted Ato this chamber -34 only at certain intervals. To accomplish admission of steam, I provide a normally closed valve 36 in an inlet passage v31 establishing communication from the main body portion of the iron to the Y moistening or steam chamber 34. As stated, this valve will be normally closed through theagency of spring 39, or in any other suitable manner, and a handle or'lever 38 is provided to bedepressed when it 'is-desired that the valve 35 be opened -to'allow flow of steam from the main hollow body of the iron through Vpassage 3l into chamber `34, and consequently to permit 4escape of the steam through the moistening openings 35 to moisten or dampen the material to be pressed.

Since the carriage I4 `ismounted 'on wheels I5 and I5 traveling on track members i2 and 93 and the iron II in its forward position .is substantially centered axially and longitudinally with the .pressing buck 5, it will be seen that the travel of .the carriage I4 will move the iron in a path over and above 'the pressing buck 5. Through the rocking movement permitted in the arm. v25, the iron I-I can be lowered to bear and press against the pressing buck 5, as shown.

oy the lower dotted lines iny Fig. 16, and through the endwise or longitudinal movement permitted vin the bar 25, the pressing iron I I caribe moved laterally and bodilyto-be completely separated ,from and out of proximity to the pressing buck 5,.as indicated by the dot-ted line position shown at the righth-and inl Fig. y16.

A motor 40, receiving -current from any suitable source, or any other desired and `suitable power unit, is mounted upon the 'frame structure and is provided with a drive or propelling shaft 4I. A control and reversing. switch, generally indicated at 42, is provided for the motor, and a brake 43 is associated with the drive or propelling shaft 4I This drive or propelling' shaft has a major portion thereof extending longitudinally of the frame .and substantially inline with the carrying or propelling arm I22 on :the bar i9, and this portion of the shaft -4I is externally screw threaded, as at 44 Fig. 10the threaded portion;-

being preferably vprovided with a square thread having a long pitch. The propelling or carrying arm22 on the bar I9 has an internally screw threaded nut portion 45 tted upon the Ascrew threaded portion 44 of shaft 4I. The motor 4B can be selected to .have a speed relatively proportioned to the pitch of the screw threaded portion 44, and as this motor is of the reversible type, it will be appreciated that shaft 4I can be rotated in the .one direction to move or propel the car-v riage I-4 from .right to left along the tracks I 2 and I3, and can be rotated in the opposite direction to cause return movement of the carriage I4 from left toright. Obviously, any desiredspeed of traviel can be accomplished by variations in the speed of the motor selected, or by variations in the pitch of the screw threaded portion 44of the shaft 4I. As stated, the motor or power unit is of the reversible type and the switch 42 is also of such construction that the motor can -be started in forward rotation, can be stopped in neutral position, and can be started in reverse rotation, the brake structure at 43 being of such construction that it will function eliiciently to stop rotation of the shaft in either forward or reverse direction, when the switch 42 is thrown to neutral, and will permit rotation of the Vshaft in either forward or reverse direction when the switch 42 is correspondingly set.

The forward movement of the 'carriage I4 is to be accomplished with the `pressing irony II raised to be spacedabove the top of thepressing buck 5, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 16, so that` as the seamed material is placed and supported upon the pressing buck 5 and the pressing iron II moves longitudinally along the length of the pressing buck, the two upstanding edges of the seamed material will be opened or spread back, as shown in; Fig. 15, and these edges will be smoothed down against the main portions of the material on each side of the seam. As indicated in Fig. 16, the moistening openings 35 are so located that they will substantially center upon the line of stitching between the seamed edges of the material, and consequently as steam escapes through thesev openings 35 the material will be moistened along the line of the seam. Wet steam is used, and the steam escaping under pressure through the-openings 35 will penetrate the materialto ymoisten the fabric and the yarn or thread thereof, and the degree and quantity of moistening can be regulated and varied by providing a greater or lesser number of steam escape openings. Further, should it be desired to moisten the material overa wider area, the openings 35 might be made' as slots, can be staggered or spread laterally, or can be arranged or formed in any other desired manner, such construction being well Within the knowledge of lone skilled in the art and therefore not being here particularly illustrated. f

As has been stated, itis desirable that steam escape through the 'openings 35 to moisten the material only during forward travel of the pressing iron and while fthe seamed edges are being spread and smoothed, and such control is accomplished through the valve 36 and arm 38. An adaptable steam control means is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 8. An arm 46 is swingably mounted on `the upper part of the pressing iron supporting standard 23, and this arm has its outer end extended to restupon the outer end of lever or valve operating Varm 38,A upon depression of Whichfthe steamvvalve 36 is opened to admit steam to escape through the moistening openings 35. A draw link 41 is slidably mounted through a' bearing 48', and is bifurcated at its upper end to fit around and over fthe arm 46 at a point spaced between the pivotal or'swinging lmounting of this arm and thepoint of contact of arm 46 and lever 38. Rollers can'be provided, as shown in Fig. 8, in the bifurcated portion of the link 41 to reduce friction on'arm 46. At its lower end this draw link 41 has a cross head 48 slidably received on pins 49 extending upwardlygfrom the carriage structure I4. These pins 49 have springs 50 thereon normally exerting resilient pressure against. the crosshead'` 48 to push up the link 41 and consequently raise the arm 46, which allows ,spring 39 to swing up the arm or lever 38 and thus -mally exert pressure to raise the bar 5I. This bar 5I is disposed .to be closely adjacent to the path ofmovement of `the crosshead 48, as the carriage I4 is moved or vpropelled longitudinally upon the frame, and the crosshead has a bearing roller 55 extending laterally therefrom to travel beneath the lower edge of the bar 5 I. This steam control bar 5I has the middle portion thereof widened downwardly, as at 56, and this widened portion has its ends tapered as at 51 and 58. I

A foot treadle 59 Figs. 3, 13, is provided at a convenient point on .fthe forward side of the frame, and is located to be accessible to thefoot of an operator when standing in position toreadily place and handle seamed garments or fabrics or material upon the pressing buck 5. This foot treadle is pivoted or swingably mounted at 66, fto thus be capableofrocking movement both upwardly and downwardly. at its inner end, the foot treadle being consequently of the double acting type. This foot treadle has a link 6I at its inner end pivotally connected with an arm 62 on a control shaft 63. This control shaft 63 is journalled in suitable bearings to extend along the frame and adjacent to the switch'42 and the brake 43, and is adapted to be the primary control for the operation of the machine. Through the medium of this foot tradle 59, the shaft 63 can be rocked in either direction, as may bedesired, and in consequence control for forward and reverse operation of the machine can be accomplished throughmanipulation of the single foot treadle 59. The reversingswitch 42 hasa control arm 64 thereon adapted to be swung to adjust the switch to forward and reverse settings, and the arm 65 on the shaft 63 is connected with the switch arm 64 through a link 66. By this connection, when the foot treadle 59 is in the intermediate position the switch will be set in neutral, and in each of the other two positions of kthe foot treadle the switch will be either set for forward or'reverse connection and operation vof the motor or power unit 40. e

As perhaps best shown in Fig. 14, the brake structure 43 is of the double shoe external type, the two shoe portions 61 and 68 being adapted to bear on opposite sides of a brake drum 69 keyed or, otherwise xed on the operating or propelling shaft 4I. These shoe members are pivotally or swingably mounted at one` side on a suitable bracket or supporting structure 10, and are adjustablyA connected with extension arms 1I and 12. A coil spring 13 fitted upon a pin 14 passing throughfopeningsin the free swinging Vends of the brake shoe members 61 and 68 normally ex-` erts resilient force to bring said brake shoe members Vinto frictional braking contactv with the.

part a partial rotation to the control shaft 63,v

the extensionarms will be spread to separatefthe brake shoes 61 and 68 from frictional contact.

with the brake drum 69. By the adjustment of the arms 1I and 12, it is possible to vary the frictional bearing force exerted by the brake-shoes 61 and 68 against the brake drum` 69, vduring the braking operation. `When the foot treadle 59, the control shaft-63, and parts controlled thereby are in neutral, the doubleacting cam 15 will vbe in thegposition illustrated in Fig. 14, and thel spring 13 'will `close thebrake shoes 61 and 68 to bear frictionally' upon the brake drum 69 and hold the shaftV 4 I' against rotation. When the treadle 58 is actuated'to accomplish either forward or reverse actuation and control, the double acting earnV 15 willbear against and between the extension arms 1-I- and 1-2, i-nconsequence-of' which the brake shoes 6-1d and 68-will be spread or movedaway from brake drum Sato-permit free rotation of theshaft 4|, the direction of rotation of this shaft-4I being of course dependent upon the particular direction of manipulation of the treadle 59, and consequently the setting of the switch 42.

The forward travel of the carriage I4 moves the pressing iron I-I forward longitudinally above and substantially parallel with and over the pressing face of the pressing buck 5, and as it is desired toavoid severe rubbing pressure uponthe garment or materialbeing pressed, it is desirable thatthe face of the pressing iron be at all times during this forward travel sufficiently spaced-above the face ofthe pressing buck to avoid pressing Contact with the material. Thus,

when a garment or other seamed material isplaced. upon the pressing buck 5,- with the seamed edges uppermost, as shown in Fig. 15, the -seamedportion-cf the material can be drawn down over the end- 8- and after the operator has initiated the opening and-spreadingback of the seamed edges,

the substantially wedge-shaped or pointed end 36L of the pressing iron I-I` will continue on betweenthe seamed edges, in substantially the relation illustrated'- in Fig. l5, and these seamed edges- Will be opened out and smoothed back to lie against the material on each side of the line of seaming.

It is-desirable that the steam supply to the steam escape openings 35 be established substantiallyas the: pressing iron reaches the garment or material, and as the steam valve 36 is opened through-pull exertedupon the rod 41, it is necessary that the steam control bar 5| be sufcientlylowered against the pressure of springs 54 to engage the roller 55 and thus exert the required pulling pressure upon link o-r rod- 41. Pulling force exerted uponthis link or rod 41 will of course move or swing downwardly the arm 46 to depress arm 38, which arm in turn opens the moistening steam control valve 36.

Normally, the steam control rod or bar 5I is raised by the springs 54 above the position in which the-roller 55- will be engaged to exert pulling force upon rod or link 41 to open the moistening steam control valve, and it is therefore necessary that meansbe provided to lower this con-trol rod-or bar 5I when the carriage I4 starts` on its forward movement, so that as the pressing ron- I1| reaches the prpper relative position with respect to the pressing buck 5, moistening steam will-be discharged through the openings 35; and, at the same time it is desirable that the steam supply through the openings 35 be cut off at the forward end of the travel of the iron II over the pressing buck 5, and that the valve 35 be maintained closed during return movement of the pressing iron to its starting position for a new operative cycle. With this in mind, I` provide adjacent to the rod or bar 5|, a shaft 16, which is journalled longitudinally upon the frame struc'- ture. Arms 11 and 18 are provided to extend laterally from this shaft 16 and have their outer ends disposed to bear upon and against the upper side of the rod or bar 5I. The shaft 16 has an operating arm 15 extending radially therefrom, and a push rod or link 86 is connected at its one endwith the swinging end of this arm 19, and at its remaining end is connected with the swinging end of an arm 8| carried by the main operating shaft 63.' The push rod or link 80 has a-slotted connectingmember 82, by which connection is established with the end of arm 8|, and thus as the treadle 59 has its forwardendswung downwa-rdlyI to setthe par-ts'for'forwardmovement of the carriage I4, this arm 6I- is swung upwardly and through -thepushA rodor link 80- theshaft 16 is given oscilla-torymovement to swing the outer ends of arms- 1-1 and 1-8-downwardly and-thus depress the rod or bar 51|` so-that this rodor bar ismovedto a-position that will engage the roller4 55 and will consequently open the moistening steam control valve. The-shoulder- 5-1 ofy rody or bar 5| is located at a point tocause opening of the valve 36- at the proper interval, and the straight run' orportion 56-of the rod or bar 5-I-willmaintainthis valve open duringtheforward moistening travel ofthe pressing iron I-I. When the pressingI iron approaches itspoint of stopping at the-end of the forward travel, the-roller 55- will runover the shoulder 58, in consequence of whichthe pulling pressure onthe dra-w rod 41- isreleased and the valve- 36 is then-free-to close over the force of spring 3-9. Duetothe loose connectionof the arm- 8|- with the push rod or link 80, at 821, the-foot treadle 55-canbe swung to raise the forward end and the parts` can thus be set in reverse-position; withoutl in any way affecting or acting upon the-moistening steam control means. rI-hus-, for the return travelor movement of the carriage and theiron, the roller 55 will not be engaged by the ba-r or rod 5I, a-nd accordingly the moisteni-ng steam control valve 36- will remain closed.

With theY parts constructed and assembled and opera-ting as set forthabove, the-pressingiron will-be moved forwardly from" the position shown in Fig. 1-5, to-open out the seamed edges83- and |311/` of the trousers leg or other garment or fabric portion 85,- and smooth these-down to lie against the main-portion ofthe-material on each side of the line ofseam. At the-same time, moist steam is discharged or supplied through the openings 35 to moisten the materialalong the line-of the seam; the-heatof the pressing iron I I- dissipating this moisture topenetrate the material and prepare the-same for final pressing and drying.

, Ashas been stated, the pressure exerted by iron |'I- duringthisforward travel to open and moisten the-material along the line of the seamv is not suiiicien-t to-accomplish pressing of the material, and this nalpressing and drying of the" garment or material isjaccomplished in a single opera-tionthroughout substantiallyy the entire length of theopened and' moistened seam, and by direct pressure exerted between theA pressing iron I-I and-the pressing-buck 5, as distinguished from sliding or rollingor other pressing of a moving part. I-nv other words, my machine and method contemplate the application and exertion-of direct. pressing force through the iron a-t substantially one and the same time or instantaneously throughout substantially the entire length of' they opened and moistened seam', the heatedI pressing iron being used to exert this pressing force andtodry the material as held and supported upon the pressing buck, without lateral orl endwiseor other movement of the pressing iron-during the pressingv interval. This direct applica-tion of pressing force to and through -thepressingv iron is accomplished by rockingl the armA 2,51 around its swinging mounting at 29, to-thus'rlower-the pressing iron II toward andY to ,cause direct pressingV pressure upon the. materialsupported byv the pressing buck 5, this pressing position being illustrated by the lower dotted lines in Fig. I6.

A roller 86' Figs. 31-9 andv 20 is carried by the swinging ends of rocking links 81 so that it is disposed transversely across the pressing iron carrying arm 25, and a bifurcated yoke 88 straddles this arm 25 and is connected with the ends of the shaft carrying roller 86. A draw rod 89 connected with this yoke 88 is extended downwardly and is provided at its lower end with an adjustably connected bifurcated yoke 90 Fig. 4 which has a friction reducing yroller 9| carried within the bifurcation thereof. By applying pressure upon the roller 9|, the arm 25 will beswung downwardly, through the medium of link 89 and the associated parts, and it is desirable that this pulling force upon the draw rod or bar 89 be accomplished through force resultant from the travel of the carriage I4. However, as above stated, it is a primary purpose of my invention that pressure shall be applied through the pressing iron only while the iron is stationary. To accomplish the application of pressing pressure through movement of the carriage, it is thereforer necessary that the movement of the iron be stopped and the movement of the carriage be continued until the proper force has been applied. With this purpose in mind, the bar I9 on the carriage I4 is made relatively movable, in the manner described above,` so that movement of the carriage structure I4 can be stopped and movement of the bar I9, under propulsion of propelling shaft 4 I, can be continued until the proper pressure has been applied. To this end, the bar |9, which normally travels with the carriage I4, v

is associated with the main parts of the carriage to permit endwise movement of the bar, and it is desirable and essential that lock or latch and releasable means be provided, as best shown in Figs. ll and 12, to normally hold the bar I9 against independent movement and to yet permit continued movement of this vbar 'I9 when the pressing iron has been brought to the end of its forward stroke, or in other words to the pressing position. The bar |9 has a notch or groove 92 in its upper edge adjacent to the forward edge of the body of the carriage I4, and a substan- -tially L-shaped latch member 93 is pivotally and swingably mounted at 94 on the body of the carriage. An extension arm 95 is mounted on the carriage I4 to extend forwardly over the latch member 93, and a toggle link 96 swingably connected to extend upwardly from the latch member 93 has a roller 91 on the free end rthereof to engage with this extension bar 95. A pressure spring 98 is mounted on the rear side of the toggle link 9S to normally exert resilient force to bring the roller 91 into bearing against the inner side of the extension bar 95, and thus the toggle link normally exerts force and pressure to move the latch member 93 downwardly to engage or hold in recess or notch 92, the latch member in this latched position then retaining the bar I9 and the carriage I4 in coupled relation tomove together.` A latch releasing trip bar 99 is carried by one of the cross bars 3, or some other suitable portion of the frame structure, in position to engage with the toggle link 96 when the carriage I4 has traveled to a pointdesired as the end of i the forward movement, or in other words when the iron has been carried to the desired limit of its forward movement over and above the pressing buck 5. This contact of the releasing trip b ar 99 with the toggle link 96 releases the toggle link and exerts force to raise the latch member 93 from engagement in the recess or notch 92 of the bar I9, inconsequence of which the carriage may stop Awhile forward movement yof the bar I9 is continued.

When the direction of rotation of the shaft 4| is reversed, to accomplish return movement of the carriage and thel iron, the bar |9 will be moved rearwardly, or in the return path, and it is desirable that this return movement of bar |9 shall cause movement of the carriage I4 suiciently toclear the latch releasing trip bar 99 so that thelatch member 93 may again enter the notch or groove 92, and thus lock the carriage I4 to be moved with the bar I9. To this end I provide a spring which is interposed between a portion of the carriage structure I4 and a stop portion |0I on the bar' I9. Through means and mechanism to be hereinafterv more fully described, pressing pressure is applied to the iron, and this pressing pressure is released by the independent forward and return movement of the bar |9 when released from the latch 93, and it will be appreciated that as th-e pressing pressure on the iron I I is released and this iron rises from contact with the material on the pressing buck, theA spring |00 will be sufficiently strong to move the carriage I4 a distanceto clear the latch structure from the latch` release bar 99, the latch 93 then engaging in the notch or groove 92 to lock the carriage positively to be carried rearwardly on its vreturn movement by continued movement of the bar I9. f

The application of pressing pressure upon the iron through the draw bar or link 89 is conveniently and positively and eiciently accomplished through the arrangement of parts as particularly shown in Fig. 4.' A pressure bar |02 is pivotally or swingablymounted at |03 at one end of. the frame, as best shown in Figure 1, and this bar extends substantially longitudinally of the frame to be guided in swinging movement at its free end by the guide members |04. The yoke or stirrup 90 has this pressure bar fitted therethrough so that the roller 97| is adjacent to the lower edge of the pressure bar |02, and consequently as the bar |02 has its free end swung downwardly, drawing force is exerted through link or draw bar 89 to` swing down the iron carrying arm` 25 and cause the pressing iron to be clamped down to exert pressing pressure against and upon and over material held on the pressing buck or support 5. The position at which this pressing pressure is exerted upon the iron II is indicated by the dotted line showing of the iron over the pressing buck in Figure 1, and the operative position of the parts employed to accomplish substantially instantaneous and forceful pressing or clamping action through the bar |02 is illustratedin full lines in Fig. 4, the inoperative position of the bar |02, and the associated parts,l being illustrated by dotted lines. Referring particularly to this disclosure, a rocking lever structure |05 is pivotally or swingably mounted at'one end, as at |06, uponr the supporting frame structure,v the free end extending inwardly a distance sufiicient to be substantially beneath the carriage I4 at the inner rend of the travel of the carriage. Arms |01 are provided at the inner ends of the rocking lever structure |05 and adjustably support cam portions or rails |08. These 

